The Present Leads to the Future

Today, the first day of a new year, we are looking at The Present leads to the Future!

There are two ways of looking at this statement.

First, we consider that the ‘present moment’ means right now, and is time-related, leading into the future.

Second, we can look at it as the ‘present’ leads into the future,  and the ‘Present’ being Jesus Christ, whom we just spent 5 Sundays calling the ‘Gift of Christmas’.

Today, we are looking at how these two views are synonymous -Jesus came to show us the future and to prepare us for it. We cannot go back in time so we are in the ‘present’ and going into the future. We cannot change the past but we can shape the future. Jesus did not come to change the past but to give a goal for the future.

I want to give credit to Al Stebing (Retired Pastor of Charlie Lake Church) for some of the thoughts today. As I was going through some the books he gave to me, I found some thoughts about the Scripture passage for today written on rough paper. I have incorporated those into this message where they fit.    

Al wrote: The present lies with the future – ‘To know Jesus Christ & the power of His resurrection.’

Philippians 3:10 NIV

10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death

I did some research and found that the Apostle Paul put the resurrection before the pain which Jesus suffered because as Christians, we find the power from the Saviour and then we suffer as He did for the faith we have in Him.¹

As Paul continues, in Philippians chapter 3, we come to verses 12-14 which many of you have memorized and applied to your thinking.

Philippians 3:12-14 NIV

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

We always look at this as the idea that we are a ‘work in progress’, and we are in a race or contest to win at some point in the future.

In the present moment, if we have accepted the grace that Jesus gives us, we know that we are saved from eternal death. We believe that we have not achieved perfection, but continue to learn and live like Jesus so we can become perfect once we are completely in step with God. Even Paul did not see himself as perfect, but constantly working to reach that point in Jesus. So our present growth leads to the future in eternal life.

Al wrote: The future lies with the future.

This should be in our thinking – ‘Pressing on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus’ Philippians 3:14 NIV

Pressing on – Life is like riding a bike –in order to keep your balance you must keep moving.

Not having arrived – if we are pressing towards, we have not reached it yet.

Forgetting what is behind  – the rear view mirror is used to see where you have been, but you look towards it, not back at it. Always looking forward! When we read the Bible, we look forward at it.

I tried to read it behind my back and even with a mirror in front of me ,but it did not work. You have to look forward and follow God’s Word.

Toward the goal – the goal is the finish line – when my life (mortality) is over.

For the prize – the prize is that perfect relationship and life of Godliness.

The future belongs to those who persevere –  ‘Not yet, but I press on’.

Not focusing on the means but the end – ‘To live is Christ and to gain (Christ)’.

The prize – The gain –       Christ fully and completely

The upward “Heavenly Calling of God” in Christ Jesus

God is Calling – The prize & the calling are synonymous. 

Philippians 3:15-21 NIV

15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.

16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.

18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

This is not perfection in itself, but a progression towards it. Once we reach complete obedience to God and have God’s love filling our entire being, then we will be perfect.

Paul continues this thought in Philippians 4:1-3 NIV

1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Paul is encouraging the Philippian church to stand firm, to be united and support each other – all part of growing closer to Go. We can have different views of life but need to have the same view of Christ!

Paul’s Final Exhortations in Philippians 4:4-9 NIV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

We need to be gentle to all so they can see Christ in and through us. Our time is short as Christ is coming again soon. I do not know when but do know we need to be diligent in showing others the love of God.

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

We have such an exciting life to live with Jesus Christ! We need to strive to keep ourselves pure in mind, body and actions. As we look forward to the rest of 2017, we have a new start to our commitment to Jesus and to all those around us.

We need to take some time now, in the present, to decide how we want to spend 2017 – running our own race or going with Jesus!

Hymnist Frances Ridley Havergal penned this poem in 1874: 

Another year is dawning: Dear Father, let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year with Thee;
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days. ²

The present leads to the future – the present being Christ as well as this current moment. Both lead to the future, and Christ leads to eternal future.

Let’s press forward to grow closer to Jesus in 2017!

One of the ways we grow closer to Jesus is by remembering His purpose for coming to earth. Jesus came to live and teach a new lifestyle, to die on a cross for our sins – not His – and to return to life to give to us eternal life. We best remember by partaking of Communion.